Pollution Prevention/Hazardous Waste Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) (In-Training)

Per Governor Inslee’s Directive 22-13.1, state employees must be fully vaccinated effective November 4, 2022. Providing proof of being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment and your vaccine status will be verified prior to starting work. Being fully vaccinated means two weeks after you have received the second dose in a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed or otherwise authorized or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or listed for emergency use or otherwise approved by the World Health Organization. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  

The Hazardous Waste Toxics Reduction within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill two Pollution Prevention/Hazardous Waste Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) (In-Training) positions. 

The Pollution Prevention/Urban Waters Specialist position must be located at our Eastern Region Office (ERO) in Spokane, WA.

The other position Hazardous Waste Specialist – Pollution Prevention can be located at one of the following locations:

This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.

This position is located in our Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA.

This position is located in our Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA.

This position is located in our Eastern Region Office (ERO) in Spokane, WA.

Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Please Note: The salary posted above does not include the additional 5% premium pay that this position will receive due to this position's location in King County. 

  

Would you like to work with local communities and businesses to reduce pollution and toxic chemical use? As a Pollution Prevention Specialist, you will join a team that supports the statewide Pollution Prevention Assistance Partnership and Product Replacement Program. This multi-region team is charged with developing and implementing approaches to assist and educate small businesses on best management practices to reduce and manage dangerous waste and prevent storm water pollution and assist businesses switch to safer products and technologies. This position provides small quantity generator technical assistance and assists in the implementation of Product Replacement Program (PRP) projects.

 

The Pollution Prevention/Urban Waters Specialist position will be the senior section lead in the Eastern Region for small quantity generator technical assistance and assist in the implementation of Product Replacement Program (PRP) projects. With your team you will provide training and mentoring to local government agencies to assist businesses in their jurisdiction. You will also conduct dangerous waste compliance inspections.

The Hazardous Waste Specialist – Pollution Prevention position will lead several PRP projects by planning and coordinating these efforts across the state. You will assist local government specialists help businesses switch to products and operations that use fewer and less toxic processes.

When we help businesses, we help Washington. The people of Washington enjoy outdoor activities and vibrant communities, so making small changes at businesses helps make Washington safe and healthy for all. 

 

The mission of the HWTR Program is to protect Washington’s residents and environment by reducing the use of toxic chemicals, safely managing dangerous waste, preventing new contaminated sites, and cleaning up contamination. The HWTR vision is to be national leaders in minimizing and eliminating the impacts of toxic chemicals and hazardous waste.  

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. Looking ahead, Ecology has recently updated the agency policies on telework and flexible and compressed work schedules. Applicants with questions about position location options, telework, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” 

 

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of November 28, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before November 27, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people. To learn more, check out our Strategic Plan. 

Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.

 

Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.

 

Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work.

 

Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement.

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued. 

 

Duties

What makes this role unique?

The Pollution Prevention Assistance (PPA) Partnership consists of 27 local government agencies who provide technical and financial assistance to small quantity generators (businesses) to reduce the release of pollution, ensure waste is properly disposed, and prevent stormwater contamination. An element of the PPA program is the Product Replacement Program (PRP), which provides reimbursements to businesses for some of the cost of switching to safer products or technologies. The PPA/PRP team develops training materials and resources for the PPA Partnership and guidelines, procedures, forms, and eligibility requirements for participation in each of these projects. These positions will develop, plan, and coordinate specific PRP projects, train PPA partners on the implementation of these projects, and work with businesses who want to participate in the projects.

 

 What you will do: 

 

 

Qualifications

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

This is an In-Training position. The goal class for this position is an Environmental Specialist 4 (ES4). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the ES4 or the ES3 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements at the ES3 level, then they will be hired as an ES3 and will be placed in a training program to become an ES4 within a specified period of time.

Possible Combinations.College credit hours or degree - as described above.Years of professional level experience - as described above.Combination 1No college credit hours or degree6 years of experienceCombination 2I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits.5 years of experienceCombination 3I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree).4 years of experienceCombination 4I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits.3 years of experienceCombination 5 A Bachelor's Degree2 years of experienceCombination 6 A Master's Degree1 years of experienceCombination 7   A Ph.D. 6 months of experience 

Possible Combinations.College credit hours or degree - as described above. Years of professional level experience - as described above. Combination 1No college credit hours or degree9 years of experienceCombination 2I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits.8 years of experienceCombination 3I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree).7 years of experienceCombination 4I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits.6 years of experienceCombination 5 A Bachelor's Degree5 years of experienceCombination 6 A Master's Degree3 years of experienceCombination 7   A Ph.D. 2 years of experience 

Two years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3, at the Department of Ecology. Experience must include: At least 12 months of the qualifying experience must include experience with implementing the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) or other hazardous waste regulatory work at any generator size.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

Supplemental Information

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable. 

For Your Privacy:

When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees:

 

Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.

The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed. 

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Elaine Snouwaert at: Elaine.Snouwaert@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Elaine to inquire about the status of your application.

 

To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information 

Student debt: how working for Ecology can help

The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.  

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.